Method of and apparatus for determining bore alignment of tubes



April 30, 1940. J. MORGAN, JR 2.198.837

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING BORE ALIGNMENT OF TUBES Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 30, 1940.

J s. MORGAN, JR 2.198.837 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING BORE ALIGNMENT OF TUBES Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ratns for determining the bore Patented Apr. 39,. 194% 1 METHOD o FAND 2,198,837 r r A A APPARATUS FOR. DETER -A A A ivnnmo Bonn ALrGNM NT orATUnEs; I John .S. Morgam lfl n, Hermosa Beach; cane; as- A; Asig nor to The National Supply Company, Pittsamen burgh, PaL, acorpcration ofPennsyl'vania Application June 25,1933, Serial no. 215.89g A 12 claims. (or. sa es) A :;This-invention relates toa method and appa:

tubular members, and .is particularly directed to a methodoand apparatus for determining the A deviations between the geometrical axis of a tube r and an axis; of the hole of the tube. While the A Ill $13110 and apparatus of this invention is appl cable for use in connection with any tubular member, it is particularly de signed and applicable 101A for Ause in connection with such tubes as are employeAdA Ain well drilling art and will be particularly described in connection therewith,

A A ,ln the Arotary system ofAdrilling wells, a hollow rodpr tube is employed having attached to its lower end a drill orcutting member. A lubricating medium or fluid is conducted through the tube tcA the hit. As wells are drilled to considerable depths; the tubeAis formedin sections which arelconnected in end to end relation. 1 The upper- Inost AA s ection of this AAdrilling tube is generally formed with a non-circular cross-section in order that rotation may beimparted thereto by sur- I madehy drilling or boring longitudinally through A face machinery. A-A'Ihe uppermost sectionis gen- A erally Aknown as the fgriefstem? or kelly. The lowermost section ofthis tubularAAdrillstring is known in the art asthe drill collan A The drill collar and grie f stemfor kelly are customarily af soli d bar. Everyfleffortfismade to make the borehole straight and true with the geometrical AaxisA cif AtheAbar, as any appreciable variation is likelytol cause the completed kelly or drill collar A to rotate eccentrically or whip at high speeds. A Also anyAvariation in the bore of A such kellys or tion which, under the magnitude ofthe loads cardrill collars is liable to resultinja weakened secried, isliable to resultjin failureof the'drillstem underoperation. Due however to inherentlimitations in boring equipment, variations in, bore alignment A A of; variations between the geornetrioal axis of the Another object of this invention is afdevicefor determining bore alignment of tubes, which device is operable todetermine thejvarikelly or drill collar and the axis of the "bored hole extending therethrough.

to A provide a tion of the bored holewithreferencc totthe geo- Almetrical axis ofthe tube, and which means includes a member adapted to be 'inserted within theboredhole arms tube and to bemoved therethrough and which, during its movement in or a with relation to the tube, will assume a position alignment: of;

asillustrated' in Figure 1 may be present which may be of greatwithin the tube with relation to the geometrical axis of the tube, thereby enabling the relative relation of the said axis to be determined by observation of the position of said: device within freely withinthe bore hole to the lowest posi tion therein sothat. observations or determinations ofits. position may be made to determine the relation of suchbore to the geometrical axis ofthe tube. A Q A t A A v Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believedvvill be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereofas illustrated in the accompanying drawin'gs. A A A fIn thetdrawings: A r A Figure" 1 is an elevation mainly in vertical section of anjapparatus embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is fan endAelevation of the apparatus toward the right A p Figurebis an "end elevationtaken substantially on the line 3- 3jofAFigureQ1. W

lookingfrorn the left -A Figure rns endmew partly fin "section of the feeding means embodied in my invention.

Figureb is: a diagrammatic View illustrating the initial "position of the sighting apparatus crosshairs withreference to a target at the start of the operation;

Figure 6 is a similar diagrammatic View illusafter a tubularmerriber has been revolved through A ahalf turn and wherein the axis of the bore hole is offset with relationto the geometrical axis of trated in Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a" side View of the adapter illustrating the relative position of the crosshairs A form of apparatus embodying my invention.

A Figure 10 is"a1diagrammaticview ofa further the tubular member in one plane with the tube setting in one position and may deviate widely in 'another plane from that axis. As the ultimate determination desired is of the relative wall thickness at the difierent points, -I have found that it is essential in carrying out my'method of determining the bore of such a tubular member to mount in the bore a member which will gravitate to the low point of the tubular member as the tubular member is rotated so that the failure of the axis of the bore to coincide with the ,geometrical axis of the tubular member may be taken with relation to that point of the wall of the tubular member which is the most thin at the point of the determination. In accordance with my invention I therefore provide a target or determining member which is mounted within the I bore of the tubular memberin such position as to gravitate to the lowest point of the tubular member as the tubular member is rotated. Thus a determination is made at that point where the tube is the thinnest. A second determination may then be made by rotating the tube through substantially 180 and by the two;determinations or readings the degree of deviation of the bore axis to the geometrical axis of the tube may be determined.

. In the modification of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, there is illustrated a plurality of supports I which rotatably support the tubular member 2 upon which the determination is to be made. A'sighting apparatus is indicated at 3, positioned with relation to the tubular member 2 so as to view the position of a. target carrier 4 within the bore ,5 of the tubular member 2. The target carrier 4 is adapted to be progressed through the bore ,5. by means of a feed mechanism 6. Means are also provided for example such as the motor indicated at I for rotating the tubular member 2 upon the supports I. I

Rollers 8 are carried at the upper ends of the supports I to allow the tubular member 2' to rotate aboutits geometrical axis.

I It will be obvious that any convenient or desirable number of such supports I may be used,

. depending upon the length of the member 2 upon which the determination is to be made. As herein illustrated, the member 2 is a drill collar. In order, to rotate the drill collar 2, a split sprocket 9 is clamped around the tubularmember 2 and a chain I0 is passed over this sprocket and over a corresponding sprocket mounted upon the power take-off shaft of the motor 1. Any suitable or desirable form of gear reduction mechanism may be interposed between the motor and the chain 10- as indicated at I I for reducing the speed 0 drive to that desired.

The .target carrier 4 is mounted upon rollers I2 to permit the target to rotate as the drill collar is rotated. The rollers I2 are, as illustrated, securedto lthebody of the carriage 4, in such a manner as to. be nonrotative relative to the carriage 4, thus causing the entire carriage to rotate as the drill collar 2 is rotated, with the result that the targetcarrier 4 as it rolls gravitates to the lowest portion of the bore hole 5.

- Secured to the carriage 4 isa plug l3 to which the cable I4 is secured by means of a swivel connection I5. I The cable l4 extends to the feed mechanism 6 so that through the medium of the cable I4 and;f eed mechanism 6, the target carriage 4 may be pulled through the tubular memface with a scale I1 consisting of a plurality of concentrically disposed and preferably equally spaced lines I8. The center of this scale correspondswith the centers of the rollers I2 which support the carriage'4. The scale I'I may be illuminated by any suitableor desirable means and is herein illustrated as being illuminated by means of anelectric globe I9 mounted within the .car riage immediately in advance of the-scale I1. Electric current is suppliedto the globe I9 through insulated cable 20, mounted in the carriage 4 which is electrically connected as indicated at 2| with the cable I4. The entire pipe or tubular member 2 is grounded to form the opposite electrical connection. I I

The feeding device designated at 6 is indicated as including a support 22 upon which a cable drum 23'is rotatably mounted and adapted to be driven by a motor 24. The motor 24 may be provided with aworm pinion 25 which drives a worm wheel 26 carried upon the shaft to which the drum 23 is secured. The worm wheel 26-may also be provided with a lug 21 which is adapted to trip a switch 28 to stop the motor 24 after the drum- 23 has completed one revolution. The diameter of the drum 23 is such that one revolution 1 thereof serves to draw the target carriage 4 through the bore hole 5'for the desired distance between readings.

A stationary brush 29 contacts a ring 30 carried by the drum 23 to supply electric current to the cable l4. t

The sighting instrument 3, as illustrated, is

adjustably mountedupon a support 3| and may consist of a telescope 32 provided with crosshairs 33 (Figs. 5 and 6).. The crosshairs 33' are'used in connection with the scale 11 to determine the alignment of the bore hole 5 with the outer circumference of the drill collar 2. t v Positioned adjacent the sighting instrument 3 is a control panel 34 whichcarries switches to control the supply of current to the motors and the light globe I9. As illustrated, the switch 35 controls the motor I for rotating the tubular member 2. The switch 36 operates to complete the electrical connection to. the light globe I9 and the switch 31 operates to complete theelectrical connection to the motor 24 and for resetting the t switch 28.

When the bore of a non-circular member is to be determined, which non-circular member may "consist of the grief stem or kelly 2 collars 38 are secured in spaced relation on the flat surfaces of the kelly and are adjusted in position by means of the adjusting screws 39 so ,thatthe geometrical axis of the kelly passes through the center of the circle of each collar 38. The collars are then rotatably supported by the rollers I 8, thereby aifording a rotatable mounting for the kelly about its geometrical axis. As herein illustrated,'the collars 38 are provided with peripheral grooves 49 within which the rollers Bare adapted to operate.

The method of and operation of determining thebore alignment using this form of apparatus is: The kelly, drill collar or the like, is mounted upon the rollers 8 and the split sprocket9 is .clamped in position and connected to the motor 1.

The target carriage 4 isplaced in position within the bore hole and the globe. I9 is lighted. The telescope 32 is adjusted as-to height upon the adjustable support by means of the hand-wheel 2,198,837 HI and the observersight s through the telescope 32 and 'bymeans oi theiad justment screws 42 and-Mbrings the "crosshairs33 into approxi- 'mate position with respect to the center of the target scale ll. The member 2 is then rotated through one or more complete revolutions while theobserver watches for any vertical movement bore hole 5.

of the scale It with relationto the crosshairs 33. When the scale l'l reachesits lowermost position, the motor '1 is stopped and the telescope 32 is adjusted to place thecrosshairs 373 in a position as illustrated in Figure 5. The telescope 32 is then in its reference position, and

this setting remains unchanged until the target moves to ajnew position or station, within the An indicatorring 44 is attached to the memher 2 by any convenient manner so that a pointer 45 is directed to a zero reading when the telescope is adjusted as indicated in Figure 5. This ring M rotates with the member .2 and its position thereon remains unchanged throughout the test. The motor I is then restarted and the member 2 slowly revolves while the observer watches for the outermost scale to reach its highest position. When this position is reached, which position is indicated in Figure 6, the motor is stopped and the reading of the scale l'l,

Well as theangle reading of the indicator M, are recorded. In the initial position of the target the high position of the scale I T will occur at 180 as illustrated in Figure 5, but for other positions of the target along the bore hole this may not be the case, particularly if the bore hole spirals through the member 2.

It willbeapparent that vertical movement of the scale ll indicates that the bore hole and the outer circumference of the drill collarare eccentric at the position of the target and that the amount of eccentricity, isshown by the scale l1, and that the relative direction of eccentricity is shown by the reading of the indicator ring 44.

i After this first reading has been taken, the observer presses one of the buttons of the switch 36.,whichcauses the motor 24 to operate. thereby pulling the target to a new position within the bore hole .5. The observer then rotates the tube 2 by means of the motor I and the operation of taking the reading is repeated for each station at which the target carriage 4 is stonpeduntil the endof the bore 5 is reached. The record thus completed shows a chart of the amount and direction of deviation of the bore alignment for the entire tube.

In the modification of my invention as illustrated in Figure 9, the member 2 upon which the determination is to be made may be mounted in position substantially as heretofore set forth in connection with the first modification of my invention. The target carriage 4 in this case includes within its interior a lamp bulb lil which may be electrically connected in substantially the same manner as hereinabove set forth. ,Within the carriage 4 is mounted a concentrating mirror 20 which concentrates the light upon an aperture Ell formed in a disc iil secured to the end of the carriage 4 Supported by the carriage 4* immediately in advance of the aperture is a concentrating lens 52'. The light passing through the aperture 51 is by this lens concentrated as a point of light directed to the end of the tube 2'. Mounted at this point is a camera 53 which maybe of any suitable or desirable, construction and in which there is mounted a motion picture film 54. In

this modification of my invention thecarriag'e 1 'rn-ay be caused to continuously move through the tube 2 and the cable M is connected over a drum23 which is rotated through a worm and wormpi'nion drive by means of the motor 24": This same motor 24 is connected through 'a series of gears 55 to drive the drive mechanism of the motion picture camera 53* and alsothrough a "continuation of this series of gears to drive a worm and rack 56 which operates a moving stop 'fi'l which is connected through an arm 58* with the lens 59* of the camera 53 so that a form of follow focus mechanism isfprovided to maintain the camera lens 59 in substantial focus with relation to the light beam emitted through the lens 52 the carriage 4 is progressed through the tube.

With this form of mechanism. a continuousrecord is formed of the vertical movement of the aperture 51 upon the motionp-icturefilm 54', thus giving a continuous and complete record of theamount of deviation of the bore hole 5'? of.

the member 2 i In-the modification of my invention as illustrated in Figure 10, the method and means for operating are substantially as illustrated inFigure 8 with the single exception of a frame 60 which ismounted at the end of the members 2 or 2' and whichframe provides a guideway for a carriage 6i inwhich a strip of sensitized film is mounted. This sensitized film may be ruled as desired so that as the light emitted from, for example, the concentrating lens 52 strikes the ruled and lined strip of sensitized film carried by the carriage 6|, it forms thereon a record of the movement of the said beam of light. In order to maintain this record in accordance with the travel of the carriage 4' through the tubular member; the memberil isydriven transversely across the opening atthe end of the tubular member: in timed relation'with reference to the movement of the carriage 4 through any suitable form of mechanism such, for example, as through the driving means as illustrated in connection with l th-esecond. modification of my invention only in that the worm gear mechanism 56 is in this latter case operated to move the film carrier 6| transverselyof the end of the tube 2 in timed relation with the movement of the carriage 4*.

Having thus fully described my invention and several modifications thereof, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the de-- tails hereinset forth, but my invention isof the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: i

1.In a device of the class described for determining bore alignment of a tube, the combination of means for mounting the tube for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said tube about said axis, a target positioned within the bore hole of the tube and having spaced supports adapted to contact the wall of said bore hole, a stationary sighting instrument indepen- 'dently and adjustably supported adjacent one end target-intermediate said spaced supports, a stationary sighting instrument adjustably supported adjacent one end of the tube, said sighting instrument being adapted for use in observing differences in position of said target scale upon rotation of the tube. r

, 3. In a device of the class described for determining bore alignment of a tube, the combination of ,means for mounting the tube in a position other than vertical for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said tube about said axis, a target positioned within the bore hole of the tube and having spaced supports adapted to contact the wall of said bore hole, a scale on said target, meansassociated with said tube including a calibrated ring and a pointer adapted to cooperate to indicate the angular position of the tube, a stationary sighting instrument independently and adjustably supported adjacent one end of the tube, said sighting instrument being adapted for use in, observing differences in position of said target scale upon rotation of the tube.

4. In a device of the class described for determining bore alignment of a tube, the combination of supporting means for mounting the tube in a position other than vertical for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said tube about said axis, a target having spaced rollers thereon of a diameter less than the diameter of the bore hole, said target being positioned within the bore hole and adapted to roll therein to gravitate to the lowest portion of its inner periphery, a stationary sighting instrument supported adjacent one end of said tube for observing said target, andv means for moving said target longitudinally in said bore hole.

' 5. Ina device for determining the alignment of a hole with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member through which it is bored, the combination of means for mounting the member in a horizontal position for rotation about said longitudinal axis, atarget positioned within the bore hole and adapted to roll therein under the influence of gravity upon rotation of the member, and a telescope supported adjacent one end of said member for observing the maximum vertical movement of the target during one revolution of the member.

, 6; In a device for determining the alignment of a hole with respect to the longitudinal axis of of said member for observing the maximum ver-,

tical movement of the target during one revolution of the member, and means for moving said target-by convenient increments longitudinally through the bore hole.

7. In a device of the class described for determining bore alignment of a tube, the combination of means for mounting the tube for rotation about 2 its longitudinal axis, means for rotating said tube about said axis, a target positioned within the bore hole of the tube and having spaced supports adapted to contact the wall of said bore hole, said target being provided with a scale intermediate said supports, means including alight source on said targetadapted to illuminate said scale, a stationary sighting instrument adjustably supported adjacent one end of the tube, said sight.- ing instrument being adapted for use in observing differences in position of said target scale upon rotation of the tube, means for moving said target by convenient increments longitudinallythrough the bore hole, the last said means including a cable adapted to carry electric energy-to operate said lightsource.

8. In a device of the class describedfor determining bore alignment of a tube the combination of means for mounting the tube for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a target positioned within the bore hole of the tube and provided with a scale, means to illuminate said target scale including a light source carried. on the target, a stationary sightinginstrument supported near one end of the tube and adapted for observing difierences in position of said target scale upon rotation of the tube, means for moving said target longitudinally through the bore hole, the last said means including a cable adapted to carry electric energy to operate said light source.

9, A method of determining the alignment of the axis of a circular hole with respect to the longitudinal axis of the member through which it is bored, comprising supporting within the bore of the member an indicator so as to gravitate, rotating the member to cause the indicator to gravitate to the lowest point of the member, and simultaneously progressing the indicator longitudinally through the bore of the member, and producing a photographic record of the position of said indicator in a plane, transverse of the hole as it travels the bore of the member.

10. In a deviceior determining the deviation of a bore from its theoretical axis, the combination of means formounting said member through which the bore extends for rotation about said theoretical axis, a target. positioned within the bore and adapted to roll by gravity circumferentially of the bore upon rotation of said member, and a telescope supported adjacent one end of said bore for optically measur ing movement of the element radially of said theoretical axis as the member is rotated.

11. In a device for determining the deviation of a bore from its theoretical axis, the combination of means for mounting said member through which the bore extends for rotation about said theoretical axis, a target positioned within the bore-and adapted to gravitate circumierentially of the bore upon rotation of said member, and means for optically measuring movement of the element radially of said theoretical axis as the member is rotated.

12. In a target for use within an elongated bore, the combination of a body provided with axially spaced roller elements for supporting the body within the bore, each of said elements being adapted to rotate in a plane normal to the axis of the bore, and a scale carried by the body and positioned intermediate said spaced roller elements.

JOHN S. MORGAN, JR. 

